I didn`t threaten Lokayukta ADGP: Devegowda

Bangalore: Facing the heat over his alleged
attempt to intimidate a top Lokayukta police officer, JDS chief
HD Deve Gowda on Saturday admitted speaking to him over phone but
rejected charges that he held out a threat in connection with
the ongoing probe in a wealth case against his eldest son.
As Gowda`s alleged threatening call to Lokayukta ADGP
Jeevan Kumar B Gaonkar, since transferred, erupted into a
major controversy, the Lokayukta police sent a `confidential
report` to the Karnataka Government on the issue.

"Certain words used by Gowda during the talk were
unpalatable" and Lokayukta Police thought it fit to bring the
development to government`s notice, Lokayukta police sources
told agency on condition of anonymity.

Gowda said "It is true that I have said that limits are
being overstepped, and there is limit to everything", but he
didn`t "threaten" Goankar, who was transferred from the post
two days ago as ADGP Administration.

The former prime minister said he told Goankar: "Don`t give
me an opportunity to hold a dharna in front of the Chief
Minister`s house. Do work which is appreciated by the people".

Lokayukta police are investigating a disproportionate
assets case against Gowda`s son, H D Balakrishne Gowda, who
opted for voluntary retirement from government service. The
FIR against him was filed under Prevention of Corruption Act
on the direction of Lokayukta court on a private complaint.
Balakrishne Gowda has been accused of amassing wealth to
the tune of Rs 300 crore when he was a Karnataka
Administration Officer in the complaint filed by H N Balakrishna, a
government engineer.

As part of the probe, Lokyukta police had conducted raids
on the residences of Balakrishnegowda in Bangalore and Mysore.

Besides his father, Balakrishne Gowda is alleged to have
made a phone call to Lokayukta SP, Shivashankar.

Former Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy, who was with Deve
Gowda at the press conference, said: "We did not interfere in
the case".

Deve Gowda and his son Kumaraswamy accused the Lokayukta
police of treating their family and that of former Chief
Miniter BS Yeddyurappa differently during their probe in
corruption cases against them.

While Lokayukta police completed raids on the residences of
Yeddyurappa`s sons and son--in-law in two hours, it did so for
a full day when it came to his family, Deve Gowda said.

"About 138 policemen simultaneously raided the premises of
my son, his relatives, and in tens of places continuously from
6 am to 7 pm. Raids were conducted on the premises of people
whose names are not there in the complaint", he alleged.

A group of around a dozen ruling BJP MLAs had yesterday
appealed to the Lokayukta Court to take suo motto cognisance
of Deve Gowda and his two sons allegedly threatening police
officials inquiring into the case against Balakrishne Gowda.